Autos & Motorbikes

When you think of Honda, you might not think of anything really snazzy or out there — but your views might well change now that you are getting a look at the Honda 3R-C concept.

Is it an automobile? Is it a motorbike? Is it something your kid can ride around the yard? Is it a new, futuristic means of transportation for your child’s favorite action figure?

It is actually a battery powered single seater, completely electric, which is set to be revealed at the upcoming motor show in Geneva.

One of the many personal mobility vehicles that will be unveiled, it definitely looks like something that the Jetson family promised us all a long, long time ago. The three wheeler has everything from a flexible cover to a safety shell, meant to decrease any threat of impacts from either side.

This bike right here is one that I did not expect I would ever see – to be perfectly honest, I always wondered if they would come up with a bike that was designed specifically for the wintertime and now … right here people, the 2010 BMW S 1000 RR is it.  Not only is it an incredible bike on the inside, but take a look at those tires!

Those tires are what actually make this BMW bike move in the snow like lightning and even through some ice – it doesn’t matter!  You will definitely not be wiping out on the snow with these beautiful and awesome looking tires.

So if you are a motorcycle guy and have been waiting for your chance – the BMW S 1000 RR bike is definitely your chance!

I have to admit, I sometimes find Toyota’s vehicles a little … mediocre. It’s not that I dislike them, not it all. It is just that, more often than not, I only like them — they do not really stand out as anything more than decent vehicles. There are always exceptions to that, however, and this is one of them.

“This” refers to Toyota’s new concept, the FT-CH, which was unveiled at the NAIAS for 2010. The potential future production boldly wore the badge of the Prius.

This particular concept is a four seater and it was both designed and created in Nice, France, which is where Toyota’s European based design center, called ED2, is located.

In general, the FT-CH is smaller than the Prius, not to mention the fact that it weighs less and is said to have even greater fuel efficiency.

Ready for a mouthful? Okay, well, somewhere out there in the world, there is a company called Herpa Miniaturmodelle GmbH, and although it sounds sort of like a highly contagious disease or something, it is actually a car company that specializes in making full scale models. This is notable because at a fairly recent Frankfurt auto show — the IAA, actually — the company revealed the Trabant nT concept, which is totally electric.

This car is a modern take on a more classic car, although I have to say that, as far as the exterior goes, the only thing really modern I see is the rather boxy shape. That’s not a slight; I think the vehicle looks awesome. I am just saying that this so called modern take could be taken a bit deeper — but at the same time I am glad it is not.

Now that Christmas is over – I can tell you that people are gearing right up for the Detroit Auto Show next month and I can tell you that it is going to be absolutely beautiful and a ton of different cars are going to be there.  One car that I am particularly excited about is the Fiat 500C.

This car is a car that I have not only been waiting to see but it is a car that looks awesome!  The small, compact feature of it is truly something that fits right in where the future is going in the way of cars.

Personally – I think that the Fiat 500C is going to be the highlight at the Detroit Auto Show and I can’t wait to see it up close and personal!

My favorite female poker player, Vanessa “Maverick” Rousso has shown once again why she is one of the most interesting and most exciting poker players of this generation: she just bought herself a beautiful deep yellow Lamborghini Gallardo – and she looks great in her Pokerstars/GoDaddy attire driving it, I’m sure.

Here’s a video of Vanessa and her brand new Lamborghini.

Congratulations, Mrs. Rousso!

If you have been a huge fan of Subaru since the beginning of time and you have been waiting for this brand to bring their special-edition WRX models to the US, well … your wait is over.  Finally, the 2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition is going to be released in the states and while we have been waiting for this to happen, it is not a surprise or a big deal to a lot of people.

For some, they are noticing the smallest little things about the 2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition – like the downgraded stereo – which has a single disc, four speakers versus the six disc, ten speakers combination that was once in the WRX. 

To me?  Not a huge deal.  I have been waiting for the Special Edition to be released forever.

Recently in Hawthorne, CA, at Tesla’s design studio, the independent firm unveiled the brand new prototype for the Tesla Model S. This is the second vehicle in the company’s rather small range, and the first to be designed by the inestimable Franz von Holzhausen. The coupe has four doors and is as sleek as you would want. It has Tesla’s brand new face, but the DLO shape and the car’s proportions are like Aston Martin’s Rapide concept, which debuted back in 2006.

The Model S has a panoramic roof made of glass. It is split into two different sections and flows flawlessly back into the steep backlight. In the rear, there are design cues similar to the Jaguar XF sedan.

The interior is all high tech luxury. If one opts for the extra rear facing seats, one could fit five adults as well as two kids within the car.

Wow, wow, wow. The Renault Ondelios is definitely a hot piece of work.

It is a luxury crossover with a twist — it is hybrid powered. The concept was recently revealed during Renault’s home show. It will fit six people with individual bucket seats set up in three rows with two seats each.

The vehicle has something rather rakish about it which reviewers thus far seem to love. Its body is made of a lightweight carbon, its design is very aerodynamic, and really, in a word, it just looks like it is going to be a super hot car.

There are lots of elegant and luxurious touches that continue to make this seem like a straight up sports car.

I swear, one of the biggest names in the world of cars is Mini – and I am seeing the Mini Cooper pop up everywhere!  So I am from Michigan and I was in a little town called Plymouth the other day and what do you know it … I saw at least five Mini’s in the parking garage!  However … we are not here to talk about the Cooper, we are here to talk about the Mini Countryman Concept.

This is actually one of the most highly anticipated releases of a car and I have to say that this little crossover vehicle is actually going to be one of the best – once it comes out mind you.  This little Mini crossover actually will not meet everyone’s eye until next year at the Geneva show – not the Detroit one.

So if you are looking forward to the Mini Countryman Concept as much as I am – go to Geneva next year!